Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men. (Colossians 3:23, NIV)
The question was simple: How do you bring up your faith?
Amy Olson, an LPGA veteran who finished runner-up at last year’s US Women’s Open, has long been bold about her Christian faith. A people person who makes it a point to make others feel welcome and engaged, surely Olson, I thought, must have some kind of effective strategy for bringing up God in conversation.
Actually, she said, very few times has she found trying to start a conversation about what she believes to be highly effective.
“Most people aren’t terribly interested,” she said.
Ah, but her best conversations, the real game changers, happen after she has prayed and asked God to lay it on people’s hearts to ask questions. But when you ask that prayer, she said, be ready to roll, because God is always quick to answer.
Living a life from grace, from forgiveness, opens up conversations.The idea of fielding questions about the Bible and faith might sound daunting to some, and it’s OK to practice this response: “I don’t really know that right now, but I’d love to look into that with you.”
Vulnerability and humility go a long way. Living a life from grace, from forgiveness, opens up conversations, Olson notes. People look at you and ask, “How can you have so much joy on weeks when you miss the cut?”
That question then opens up a conversation about where her identity lies.
“We have to speak the gospel in words,” said Olson. “Just living a good life and being a nice person does not communicate the gospel.”
Praying for the hearts of others can open the door to eternal conversations.
Olson wants to win majors and play on Solheim Cup teams, but she keeps Colossians 3:23 at the heart of her job. A daily reminder that as she strives toward the highest achievements, she ultimately works for the Lord.
“I fight the desire to get approval from people, to impress people, for people to know how great Amy Olson is,” she said. “That is such a struggle for me. When I remind myself, and it’s a daily reminder, that I’m not playing for other people, I’m not playing for their approval and whether they know my name or not, it really doesn’t matter.
“I’m playing to bring glory to God, to be able to display and use the gifts that he’s given me and ultimately to point to him and to build his kingdom, not mine.”
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Beth Ann Nichols
February 18, 2021
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The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
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